EDF Energy's The POD

EDF Energy is one of the largest energy companies in the UK, supplying around 6 million residential and business accounts with electricity or gas and producing around one-fifth (20%) of the nation’s electricity.

The Pod – EDF Energy’s award wining education programme – is now the largest programme of its type with over 17,500 registered schools across the United Kingdom, and over 10 million children and young people engaged.

The programme aims to inspire young people and their families to choose a more sustainable lifestyle, to promote STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) and encourage science and engineering as a career choice and to help children and young people understand that a low carbon, secure and affordable energy supply is vital for the future.

Keep Scotland Beautiful has established an innovative educational partnership with EDF Energy to support a professional learning programme for teachers from across Scotland.

The E³ Energy, Enterprise and Environment Programme builds teachers’ professional knowledge, skills and confidence in all aspects of energy science and energy production, and promotes critical and creative thinking for teachers and pupils. Educators taking part in the E³ Programme support the whole school community in learning about climate change and global warming as well as the issues of carbon reduction, waste minimisation and how Scotland secures a supply of clean, green, affordable energy.

Through this Keep Scotland Beautiful professional learning programme teachers will help young people to develop skills such as critical thinking, informed decision making and responsible citizenship, these will be rooted in the wider context of Learning for Sustainability and Curriculum for Excellence. Learning will be taken forward in a school community context to develop appropriate pedagogies and highly effective practice for energy and sustainability themes, culminating in a community energy event. Education for Sustainable Development, Global Citizenship and Outdoor Learning will also provide an exciting framework for participants to create, inspire and promote change through the Eco-Schools process.

It will also help them to inspire young learners to understand and engage with science, technology, engineering and maths and consider potential opportunities for careers in the sustainability and energy sectors. Participants will also have the opportunity to utilise EDF’S award winning education programme (The Pod) as well as visiting a range of energy production facilities.

The Energy, Enterprise and Environment Programme will assist teachers working with learning for sustainability within the Standard for Career Long Professional Learning and will provide an opportunity for Professional Recognition by the General Teaching Council for Scotland.

An example of the many resources available on the Pod. This quick Energy Analyser activity uses real-life data on the energy consumption of UK home and businesses, and to spark a debate about our nation’s energy use. Have a look at resources available on http://jointhepod.org